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Fundraisings and IPOs

Date: 2018-04-27

Type of information: Series A financing round

Company: A-Mansia (Belgium)

Investors: Seventure (France) Fonds Vives II (Belgium) SRIW Life Sciences (Belgium) Nivelinvest (Belgium) Pierre Drion

Amount: €13 million

Funding type: series A financing round

Planned used:

  • Founded in 2016, A-Mansia is based on discoveries made by the founding scientists, Professor Willem M. de Vos from Wageningen University (The Netherlands) and Professor Patrice D. Cani from the University of Louvain (UCL, Belgium). Isolated in 2004 at Wageningen University, A. muciniphila is one of the most abundant species found in the gut microbiota. It is located in a particular niche: the mucus layer covering the intestinal epithelium. This location allows this bacterium to establish a close cross-talk with the host. Thanks to these interactions with the host immune and metabolic functions, A. muciniphilaacts as the gatekeeper of the intestinal barrier. More than ten years of collaborative research in two well-recognized university laboratories have led to the demonstration that daily administration of live A. muciniphila can improve metabolic disorders and inflammatory conditions in mice fed with a high-fat diet. Pasteurised A. muciniphila exhibited the same, or greater, beneficial effects and completely prevented the development of disorders induced by a high-fat diet in the preclinical model.The first human exploratory study of A. muciniphila in volunteers is currently ongoing in University of Louvain’s hospital (Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels). Interim results confirm that it is safe and well tolerated.
  • In parallel research, the team has identified active components isolated from A. muciniphila able to replicate the beneficial properties associated with administration of the whole bacterium. Proceeds of this Series A financing will be used to progress the development of a proprietary nutritional supplement based on A. muciniphila through to commercial launch. As subjects with an increased cardio-metabolic risk (insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, high blood cholesterol, and visceral fat accumulation) are characterized by lower A. muciniphila abundance in the gut, this supplement could be key to maintaining health and immunity, normal glycaemia, normal blood cholesterol levels and avoiding excessive weight gain.
  • Funds will also be applied to developing a pharmaceutical research pipeline based on active components isolated from A. muciniphila.

Others:

  • • On April 27, 2018, A-Mansia Biotech  announced a €13 million first close of its Series A financing, led by Seventure Partners. The financing round remains open for additional investment. Alongside Seventure Partners, other venture investors included Fonds Vives II (University of Louvain, UCL), the SRIW Life Sciences and Nivelinvest, as well as historical supporter of the research, private investor Mr Pierre Drion.
  • A-Mansia has also secured €3m in non-dilutive funding from the Walloon regional government.
  • As part of the investment, Eric de la Fortelle from Seventure Partners will be joining the Board of A-Mansia.

Therapeutic area: Metabolic diseases

Is general: Yes